How transportation projects are planned and completed

Extensive planning is required. All transportation projects must comply with state and federal guidelines and regulations designed to protect public and environmental safety, and must follow established engineering practices. There are required specialized environmental studies and coordination with regulatory agencies; specialists in such fields as noise and air quality, archaeology, architectural history, biology, and land-use planning may be needed. Design and traffic engineering studies are conducted to identify the safest and lowest-cost alternatives.

Public input continues. Changes in traffic and pedestrian infrastructure can impact private and public property, and business revenues. We will continue to actively seek out and engage property and business owners to ensure that proposed changes will generate a net gain for the community while minimizing impacts.
Here is what's involved in the planning process for each project: citizen input; data collection; engineering studies and drawings; reviewing qualifications of potential contractors; working with other government agencies and property owners to secure permissions; and, finally, to coordinate work schedules among various contractors, utilities and government entities.

Shovels in the dirt - January 2019. Construction is expected to start as early as January 2019 for the Uptown median project and possibly the Forest Road / 89A connector.

Funding. All of the projects will be funded by a temporary half-cent Transportation Privilege Tax, a sales tax, that took effect March 1, 2018. Tax revenues, 60 percent of which will be paid by visitors, will be spent solely on transportation projects. The tax will expire as soon as improvements are completed or in 10 years, whichever comes first.